If ever Huddersfield Town and their supporters were in need of a festive tonic then it's now, against Southampton.

The loss to Newcastle United on home soil last week - making it four defeats on the trot by a single goal - seems to have genuinely focused attention on Town's worrying plight in the relegation zone of the Premier League.

Many fans are genuinely concerned that unless Town start to make more of their games at the John Smith's Stadium and, indeed, pick up more points generally in the near future, then they will be heading back to the Championship.

Others point to the goalscoring problem and a withering injury list and reckon that by the time Town emerge from their match at fifth-bottom Cardiff City on January 12, everyone will have a pretty clear idea if David Wagner's side have any chance of survival.

It was noticeable how the atmosphere at the John Smith's dropped off in the closing stages against Newcastle when, even though Wagner's men were dominating possession and territory, there didn't appear a conviction from the stands they could actually find an equaliser to wipe out the Salomon Rondon strike.

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: Salomon Rondon of Newcastle United celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Newcastle United at John Smith's Stadium on December 15, 2018 in Huddersfield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

As a result, decent numbers headed for the exits early, having lost hope in the team coming up with a goal.

With such an important 90 minutes on the horizon, though, it would be great for all sections of support to renew their full-vocal backing of the lads in blue and white - because they need every decibel of help they can get.

A united front of team and fans has carried Town over some considerable hurdles in the past three and a bit years since Wagner took over and, if the club are to come through the sizeable challenge in front of them of preserving Premier League status, then it cannot be allowed to wane.

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A first three-point haul since Wolves away on November 25 - and only a third win of the Premier League season - would be a massive lift for all concerned with Town.

In fact, many fans I've spoken to already view it as essential.

While Southampton are understandably buoyant after the win over Arsenal, they've won only once in the league away from St Mary's all season (at Palace), so Town have no reason to go into the match anything other than positively.

From the head coach's comments in his press conference, that's exactly how they intend to approach the task.